News India Live, Digital Desk: Bihar Elections: Union Minister Chirag Paswan responded to the speculation about his growing proximity with leaders of various political parties from Tejashwi Yadav to Prashant Kishore, saying, “Friendship with everyone, as long as PM Modi is my Prime Minister, no alliance with anyone.”
Chirag Paswan made it clear that there are personal relationships, but his political loyalty is completely with the current NDA alliance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also talked about India’s global reach, Operation Sindoor and Bihar’s politics against terrorism.
Chirag Paswan: This is necessary. There was a cowardly and embarrassing terrorist attack on our country and after that the world should know about the courage and valor that the Indian Army introduced through Operation Sindoor. That is why a delegation of MPs has been sent to different countries to favor India. It is important that the correct picture of India be presented. Our soldiers destroyed only terrorist camps without harming any citizen… These terrorist camps were being raised by our neighboring country for a long time. The delegation has also gone before. Their purpose is to make the world aware of the right nectar of India.
Opposition, Congress and sometimes RJD are questioning Operation Sindoor. They are talking about killing fighter aircraft by Pakistan and questioning the ceasefire and also why PoK was not captured. How do you see it?
Chirag Paswan: Is this really time to raise such issues? At a time when the country needs to unite against terrorism, what are parties like opposition, especially Congress? You are repeating the Narrator of Pakistan. The questions they are asking, the same questions are also asking our opposition. Do you really think this is the right time for politics? Let the world see India as a unit. The parliamentary delegation who is not representing any party is representing the country. You can ask all your questions later, this government and this Prime Minister are till 2029. But do you think this is the time to look divided for India? The role of the opposition in this entire episode has been very wrong and if they continue on this path, it will tarnish India’s global image.
The Prime Minister said, “We mixed them in dust.” What do you think?
Chirag Paswan: Operation Sindoor, its name is a symbol of justice. Just as many of our sisters lost their husbands in this terrorist attack, similarly the name of this operation is also a symbol of emotional justice. These stringent words of the Prime Minister once again show their determination, the same resolution that he told Madhubani, the land of Bihar, where he clearly said that the answer would be beyond imagination. And I am confident that the Indian Army has done the same.
Let’s take a question related to Bihar. You recently met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Did you tell them that you are coming to Bihar?
Chirag Paswan: My Chief Minister is well aware that I have come into politics for Bihar and Biharis. He has always appreciated it. Of course, during our meeting we discussed many political issues, including the upcoming Bihar elections. We emphasized that the party wants me to spend more time in Bihar and play a more active and strong role. I believe that CM is happy with this and wants the party to play an important role in the upcoming assembly elections, which will benefit the entire coalition. It is not about doing different things, but about working together as a united alliance.
A small video of yours has gone viral. You met Tejashwi Yadav and CM Nitish Kumar on the same day. You were also seen praising Prashant Kishore. Why is Chirag Paswan supporting everyone?
Chirag Paswan: Alliance is possible with everyone (in joking). I have said very clearly and on record before, as long as Modi ji is my Prime Minister, it is not possible for me to think about any alternative alliance. If so, in 2020, when I had gone alone, I would join another alliance. Perhaps my performance would have been much better, and we would have been in a strong position in Bihar. But I chose to fight alone, not being a part of an alternative alliance. As far as the video you are referring to, Tejashwi is like a younger brother for me, and I have always considered his family as my own. Lalu ji is like a father for me, Rabri ji is like my mother, I have always accepted this. The meeting was one of the beautiful moments of our democracy, where the two sides came together to stand with the families of our martyrs. I don’t think that more reads need to be read about that meeting.
Chirag Paswan, Tejashwi Yadav, Prashant Kishore, Kanhaiya Kumar, all of you are on the ground. Wherever you go, they are also seen. Will all four of them be seen in the electoral fray?
Chirag Paswan: Absolutely. Playing their role, I think it will be a beautiful moment for Bihar and its people. The beauty of democracy is in giving options. I believe that today Bihar has those options. People can decide which ideology, leadership or coalition is best suited for them. And I believe that today our alliance is the best of them.
Will 2025 be the same as 2020 for you or something has changed?
Chirag Paswan: It depends on what sense you are asking. In 2020, I contested alone. In 2025 you will see me standing firmly with the alliance. We will fight together, win together and Nitish Kumar ji will once again become the Chief Minister. If it had been so easy, you would have already had numbers. You have already shown the numbers that I do not even have. But I will not dissolve the dignity of the alliance by publicly stating the numbers without discussing within the alliance. These cases will first be resolved within the alliance of our five parties. After that we will jointly hold a press conference and announce the number of seats and who will contest from where.
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